Can opener



March Mil 1950 w. w. WELLER CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 .4 9 l O l C e D d e l .l F

Attorney W. W. WELLER CAN OPENER March 14, 195o 2' Sheets-sheet 2 8 4 9 l o 1 c e D d e l .l F

llrl'rnlor 'V/A/FRED W. WEL El? ///////Hf////WM////M Amir/ley Patented Mar. 14, 195i() UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2 Claims.

The" present invention relatesrto can. openers and.'v it consists in the combinations, construe'- tions.andnarrangementsfof 'parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a compact and simply constructed canA opener which may be mounted in any convenient place and which, when not in use, occupies a minimum of space. rFhere is provided a vertical base member upon which is vertically and adjustably mounteda can-supporting member. To the upper end of the base member there is pivotally connected a handle or lever which carries adjacent its inner end a can-puncturing blade which is adapted to cut a V-shaped opening in the top of a can and adjacent the edge thereof adjacent the base. There is also carried a vent punch which is adapted to form an air opening on the top of the can adjacent the edge thereof at a point opposite to the V-shaped opening.

it is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a can opener which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and yet ecient and effective in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for adjustably mounting a shelf or can-supporting member forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel blade and lever arrangement forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel guide means for properly positioning a can upon the shelf aforementioned.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevational View thereof,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the manner of using the can opener forming the present invention,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating certain details of construction,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the device in folded condition as it appears when not in use, and

Figures 'I to 9, inclusive, are perspective views illustrating the component parts of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

there-isishown therein a cany openerl` hav-inga' vertically extending generally nat base member ihaving a fiange-like wall-engaging integrally formedhfoot ll-at its lower end and integrally formed, inwardly extendingl side members I2` each provided with integrally formed lower'feet l3`- and-integrally formed upper feet ifi.'

Openings l5- are provided inthe face 'ofi the base= lfadjacent each of'thefeet I3 and lfdefor the reception-of nails, screws or the likeyas -in'' dicated-at4 l6-- The lowerportion of tlie=basey HE is provided with a centrally disposed vertically extending panel having a plurality of upwardly directed horizontally extending teeth ll which are preferably formed integrally with the base and the base is provided at its upper end with a downwardly directed opening i8 to provide clearance for a blade hereinafter to be referred to.

The upper extremity of the base lil is bent to form a pair of forwardly curled hinge members i9 to each of which is aixed a forwardly projecting guide detent '20.

An elongated handle 2| is provided with an integrally formed hinge member 22 at its inner end and a pin 23 extends through the members l 9 and the member 22. A can-puncturing blade 2Q of triangular shape is affixed to the handle 2l and extends downwardly therefrom and at a right angle thereto. The blade 2li is aiiixed to the handle 2l adjacent the hinge member 22. A vent punch 25 is affixed to the underside of the lever 2l in spaced relation to the blade Z4.

When the blade member lil is affixed, for example, to a wall 26 or the like, a recess 2l will be provided in such wall to accommodate the blade 2li when the lever 2l is in inoperative position as shown in Figure 6 and an elongated vertical passage 25 will be formed upon either side of the device between the wall 2S and the inner edges of the side walls l2 and legs I3 and I4.

An adjustable shelf is provided and consists of a vertically extending body 29 having at its upper end a pair of integrally formed, inwardly directed hooks 30 which lie in the passages '28 and are vertically slidable therein. The lower end of the body 23 has integrally formed therewith a horizontally and outwardly extending shelf or platform 3l which is provided with a centrally disposed recess 32 for the reception of the lower end of the handle when the same is not in use as shown, for example, in Figure 6, and an angularly and downwardly directed ,dog 33 is aixed centrally upon the rear of the body 29 at its juncture line with the shelf 31.

In operation, it will be apparent that a can 34 containing a liquid such as beer, fruit juices or the like may be placed upon the platform 3l and against both of the guide detents 20. The handle 2l may be then swung downwardly upon its hinge, as indicated in Figure l, whereupon the blade 24 will puncture and cut a V-shaped opening in the top of the can adjacent the wall and the vent punch 25 will punch an air vent in the top of the can at a point adjacent the outer side thereof. The platform or shelf 3| may be vertically adjusted by simply grasping the sides of the body 29 with ones ngers and moving the same outwardly to disengage the dog 33 from the teeth Il whereupon the shelf assembly may be moved to another position and the dog reengaged with the teeth H at another point. The recess 2 provides clearance for the blade 24 when the device is not in use.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending base member, a shelf assembly, means for vertically adjusting the shelf assembly upon the base member, a lever pivotally connected with the upper end of the base member, a blade affixed to the lever and a vent punch affixed to the lever, said means for vertically adjusting the shelf assembly including a panel of horizontally extending teeth formed in the base member and a downwardly and inwardly directed dog carried by the shelf assembly.

2. A device of the character described comprising a vertically extending base member, inwardly directed integrally formed feet for the base member, a shelf member, means for vertically adjusting the shelf member upon the base member, a lever hingedly connected to the upper end of the base, a dependant blade axed to the lever adjacent the inner end thereof and a dependant vent punch aixed to the lever in spaced relation to the blade, said means for vertically adjusting the shelf including a plurality of horizontally extending teeth formed in the base member, a pair of vertically directed hooks carried at the upper end of the shelf assembly and slidable between the sides of the base member and the feet and a downwardly and inwardly directed dog affixed to the lower end of the shelf assembly.

WINFRED W. WELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,397,537 Munsing Nov. 22, 1921 1,866,642 Geer July 12, 1932 

